Calathea plant named ‘TWYCA0019 2’

ABSTRACT

A new  Calathea  plant particularly distinguished by having pink and green bracted inflorescences which are held high above the foliage, sturdy and upright growth habit, large, ovate to elliptical leaves with dark green margins and broad grey-green elliptical centers, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Calathea hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘TWYCA0019 2’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of calathea,botanically known as Calathea hybrid and hereinafter referred to by thecultivar name ‘TWYCA0019 2’. The new cultivar originated as a sport froma Calathea plant designated ‘Indri’ (U.S. Plant No. 16,028) in theSpring of 2005 in Apopka, Fla.

A single plant selection was chosen for further evaluation and forasexual propagation in Spring, 2005.

The new cultivar was first propagated in the Summer of 2005 in Apopka,Fla. and has been asexually reproduced repeatedly by division and tissueculture over two generations. The present invention has been found toretain its distinctive characteristics through successive asexualpropagations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normalhorticultural practices in Apopka, Fla.

-   -   1. Tall, upright branching habit;    -   2. Pink and green bracted inflorescences which are held above        the foliage;    -   3. Large ovate to elliptical medium green leaves with        silver-green markings.

DESCRIPTION OF PHOTOGRAPH

This new Calathea plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographwhich shows the overall plant habit including blooms and foliage of theplant; the colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained byconventional photographic procedures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘TWYCA0019 2’. The data which define thesecharacteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out inApopka, Fla. The data were obtained in August 2006 from 12-month oldplants grown in 6-inch pots from a 13-week-old tissue-culture derivedliner. The plants were grown in a greenhouse with average dailytemperatures of 24° C.-35° C. and average nightly temperatures of 18°C.-95° C. Color readings were taken under natural light in thegreenhouse. Color references are to The Royal Horticultural SocietyColour Chart, 2001 edition.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Marantaceae.        -   Botanical name.—Calathea hybrid.        -   Common name.—Calathea.-   Parentage:    -   -   Mutation parent.—‘Indri’ Calathea hybrid (U.S. Plant Pat.            No. 16,028).-   Growth:    -   -   General. —Tropical flowering potted plant; plant is suitable            for use in shaded tropical landscapes.        -   Time to flower.—12 months to flowering, starting from a            13-week old liner from tissue culture.        -   Appropriate container.—15 cm to 20 cm pots; suitable for use            in shaded tropical landscapes and indoors.-   Plant description:    -   -   Life cycle.—Herbaceous perennial.        -   Habit.—Upright, wider than tall, inverted triangle, densely            leafy; inflorescences upright and held above and among the            foliage in the center of the plant; upright whorls of leaves            arise from underground rhizome; rhizomaceous.        -   Vigor.—Typical of Calathea; progressive and consistent            growth.        -   Height.—28.0 cm to 35.0 cm.        -   Spread (including flowers).—49.0 cm to 57.0 cm.        -   Root color.—RHS N199B (Brown); tips RHS 145D to RHS 155A.-   Branches:    -   -   Branching habit.—Basal branching, rhizomaceous.        -   Number.—10 basal branches.        -   Length.—Variable depending upon age.        -   Lateral branch diameter.—1.2 cm.-   Stems (rhizomes):    -   -   Description.—Cylindrical, round in traverse section.        -   Aspect.—Horizontal, underground rhizome becoming upturned,            vertical at tip.        -   Strength.—Thick, tough and fibrous.        -   Internode length.—0.9 cm to 2.5 cm.        -   Color.—RHS N170C to RHS N170D.-   Leaves:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, closely spaced in vertical ranks,            rosette, with one to four leaves per lateral branch            depending on age of the branch.        -   Shape.—Simple, elliptical.        -   Apex.—Cuspidate.        -   Base.—Obtuse.        -   Margin.—Entire, wavy.        -   Size.—Length: 16.0 cm to 20.0 cm. Width: 11.0 cm to 13.0 cm.        -   Color.—Immature leaf: Upper surface: Leaf margin of RHS 147A            to RHS 146A (Medium-green) with a broad diffuse band of two            shades of RHS 194B (Silver-green) and RHS 147B to RHS 147C;            RHS 147A to 146A (Medium green) in the center; RHS 146A to            146B (Pale-green) markings following the mid-rib. Lower            surface: RHS 191A. Mature leaf: Upper surface: Leaf margin            RHS 147A (Green) with a broad diffuse band of two shades of            RHS 194B to RHS 194C (Silver-green) and RHS 147B; Leaf            center of RHS 147A (Medium-green); RHS 146A to RHS 146B            (Pale green) markings following the midrib. Lower surface:            RHS 191A to RHS 147B.        -   Venation.—Type: Pinnate. Color: Upper surface: Midrib: RHS            147B tinged with RHS 199B. Primary veins: RHS 147A. Lower            surface: Midrib: RHS 199A to RHS 199B. Primary veins: RHS            191A to RHS 147B.        -   Texture.—Upper surface: Glossy to shiny, concave between            primary veins resulting in a slightly textured look. Lower            surface: Matte, dull.        -   Surface pubescence.—Absent.-   Petiole:    -   -   Length.—19.0 cm to 24.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.5 cm.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Color.—RHS 148A tinged with RHS 199B.        -   Petiole sheath.—Encircles the rhizome and extends up the            petiole to within 8.0 cm of the base of the leaf.        -   Color.—Outside: RHS 146A tinged with RHS 199B and flushed            with RHS N170D. Inside: Smooth, shiny RHS 146B tinged with            RHS 199B.        -   Cataphylls.—Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Base: Sessile,            clasping rhizome. Length: 10.0 cm to 12.0 cm. Diameter            (flattened): 2.0 cm. Color: Outside: RHS 146A tinged with            RHS 199B and flushed with RHS N170D. Inside: Smooth, shiny            RHS 146B tinged with RHS 199B. Texture: Outside covered with            short, fine pubescence.-   Geniculum:    -   -   General.—The orientation of the leaf to the petiole is            variable, as the geniculum bends. During the night and early            morning the geniculum is straight, and the leaf is held            nearly vertical above the foliage. During the day, the            geniculum is bent, and the leaf is held about 90° to the            petiole.        -   Length.—3.2 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.5 cm.        -   Color.—RHS 199A to RHS 148A.-   Flower bud:    -   -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Size.—Length: 2.0 cm. Diameter: 0.35 cm.        -   Shape.—Elongated, elliptical.        -   Color.—Translucent white.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Lastingness of the flowers on the plant.—Individual flowers            last about one day before shrivelling.        -   Flowering season.—Spring and fall 1 to 3 flowers may open            simultaneously per inflorescence per day over a period of            about 8 weeks.        -   Arrangement.—Inflorescence emerges from the center of the            whorl of leaves. Flowers emerge from short branch spikes            under colourful bracts atop a tall upright spike.        -   Inflorescence type.—Tall, upright, terminally bracted spike;            bracts arranged in closely spaced vertical ranks occupying            the upper 6.0 cm of the spike.        -   Inflorescence height.—30.0 cm to 36.0 cm.        -   Inflorescence width.—7.0 cm from tip to tip of bracts across            top of inflorescence.        -   Number of flowers per inflorescence.—72.        -   Quantity of flowers and buds per plant.—11 spikes present;            about 440 flowers and buds per plant.        -   Fragrance.—Absent.        -   Flowering habit.—Tips of petals and staminods emerge from            branch spikes under fertile bracts; flowers last about one            day before fading and shrivelling.-   Flowers:    -   -   Form.—Tube-like.        -   General.—Self-cleaning.        -   Shape.—Tube like; staminodes and petals curve outward.        -   Diameter.—1.8 cm across the face of the flower; tube of            flower is 0.3 cm.        -   Petals.—General: 3 petals per flower; tube-like with a            translucent, delicate appearance that curves outward at the            tips. Size: Length: 3.2 cm. Width: 0.5 cm. Shape: Narrow,            elliptic Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture: Smooth, both            surfaces. Aspect: Outward. Color (both surfaces):            Translucent white, fading to RHS 199C to RHS 199D,            ultimately becoming RHS 200A.-   Sepals:    -   -   General.—Composed of 3 sepals; translucent, pale white,            crystalline with a tube-like arrangement.        -   Shape.—Narrow elliptic to linear.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Acute.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Length.—2.2 cm.        -   Width.—0.4 cm.        -   Texture.—Both sides are smooth.        -   Color (both surfaces).—RHS 155D (Translucent white).-   Peduncle:    -   -   Length.—30.0 cm to 36.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.5 cm.        -   Angle.—Straight upright.        -   Strength.—Tough flexible.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Color.—RHS 148A tinged with RHS 199B.-   Bracts:    -   -   General.—Terminal bracts uppermost on raceme, subtended by            fertile bracts with underlying branch spikes.        -   Terminal bracts.—Quantity: 8. Length: 4.0 cm. Width: 2.0 cm.            Shape: Elliptic, flat or reflexed. Apex: Acute. Base: Acute.            Margin: Entire, smooth. Color: Upper surface: Margin RHS            186A to RHS 186B (Pink); edge tinged with RHS 186D; Center            RHS 138B to RHS 138D. Lower surface: RHS 194B to RHS 194C            tinged with RHS 199A; margins are RHS 186A to RHS 186B.            Texture: Upper surface: Smooth. Lower surface: Slightly            rough.        -   Fertile bracts.—Quantity: 11. Length: 2.8 cm. Width: 3.3 cm.            Shape: Broadly obovate. Apex: Emarginate. Base: Acute.            Margin: Entire, smooth. Color: Upper surface: Margins are            RHS 186C to RHS 186 D with the center RHS 191B to RHS 191C.            Lower surface: Margins are RHS 186B to RHS 186C, with the            center RHS 138B. Texture: Upper surface: Smooth. Lower            surface: Slightly rough.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Staminode.—3; thin, crystalline, delicate, with a tube-like            arrangement that is flared outward and reflexed at the tips.            Shape: Two are spatulate with emarginated tips, one is short            reduced, linear, cupped at the tip. Margin: Entire. Length:            3.2 cm; reduced staminode is 2.7 cm. Width: 0.8 cm at widest            point; reduced staminode is 0.3 cm. Texture (both surfaces):            Smooth. Color: Spatulate staminodes translucent white RHS            155B flushed with RHS N87C; reduced staminodes are            translucent white, RHS 155B flushed with RHS N87C.        -   Stamens.—Quantity: 1. Anther shape: Lanceolate. Anther            length: 0.1 cm. Anther width: 0.05 cm. Anther color: RHS 8C            (Yellow). Pollen Amount: Sparse. Color: RHS 155A.        -   Pistils.—Quantity: 1. Length: 2.9 cm. Stigma shape:            Elliptic, cupped. Stigma color: RHS 155A (White). Style            length: 2.9 cm. Style diameter: 0.1 cm. Style color: RHS            155A (White). Ovary: Inferior, 3 celled. Color: RHS 155A            (White). Length: 0.22 cm. Width: 0.19 cm.-   Fruit and seed set: Has not been observed.-   Disease and insect resistance: Resistance and susceptibility is    typical of the species.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL CULTIVARS

‘TWYCA0019 2’ differs from the mutation parent Calathea hybrid ‘Indri’(U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,028) in that ‘TWYCA0019 2’ has a lower leafsurface that is green colored, while ‘Indri’ has a lower leaf surfacethat is purple colored.

‘TWYCA0019 2’ differs from the commercial variety Calathea named‘Eclipse’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,621) in that ‘TWYCA0019 2’ has greencolored lower leaf surface, while ‘Eclipse’ has a lower leaf surfacewith a dark purple color. ‘TWYCA0019 2’ has long lasting pink and greenbracted inflorescences which are displayed above the foliage, while‘Eclipse’ has green bracted inflorescences that are short scaped,inconspicuous and held among and below the foliage. ‘TWYCA0019 2’ istaller and has a more upright growth habit, while ‘Eclipse’ has ashorter, more spreading growth habit. Additionally, ‘TWYCA0019 2’ haslarge leaves, while ‘Eclipse’ has small leaves.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Calathea plant as shown and describedherein.